WalterFootball.com: NCAA Football Predictions and Picks Against the Spread

South Florida (6-0) at Rutgers (4-2)
Line: South Florida by 2.5.
Thursday, 7:45 ET

Sorry if I offend any South Florida fans, but I don't buy the Bulls as the No. 2 team in the country. Top 10? Definitely. But they simply beat Auburn, a fraud team, and West Virginia as a live home underdog on a weeknight. Now, they're on the opposite end of a similar situation.

I don't believe Rutgers is any worse South Florida. I actually consider the two equals. But that's not what the public thinks. Everyone loves the Bulls. In fact, nearly 90 percent of the action is on the road favorite. Yet, the line actually moved in Rutgers' favor.

The North Jersey crowd is going to be nuts, ready to cheer on their live home dog under the weeknight lights.

Prediction: Rutgers 24, South Florida 17
Rutgers +2.5 (5 Units - Double Money Pick) -- Correct; +$500
Rutgers 30, South Florida 27

Louisville (4-3) at Connecticut (5-1)
Line: Louisville by 3.
Friday, 8:00 ET

I must be off this week, because for some reason, I thought Louisville-Connecticut was being played on Saturday. I was surprised when my friend pointed out they were playing tonight. Because of that, I like the Huskies a lot; it goes with the system I love - a weeknight live home dog, playing on national TV, with the money going the other way.

I don't know if this game means anything to Louisville. It means much more to the Huskies in terms of recruiting.

Also, I just noticed that Eastern Michigan isn't really at home; they're playing at Ford Field. There could be no fans in the stands. I don't know how loyal Eastern Michigan's fanbase is. If Eastern Michigan fans show up, there might not be anyone in the stands; I can't see Northwestern students traveling. Still, this game means more to Eastern Michigan. That'll stay at one unit.

Prediction: Connecticut 34, Louisville 31
Connecticut +3 (3 Units - Money Pick) -- Correct; +$300
Connecticut 21, Louisville 17

Northwestern (4-3) at Eastern Michigan (2-5)
Line: Northwestern by 10.
Friday, 7:00 ET

If there were a playoff system, Northwestern would currently be trying its hardest to rack up as many victories as possible. Unfortunately, the NCAA is dumb. This game means a lot more Eastern Michigan, in terms of recruiting and program respectibility. And yes, they are a LIVE home dog under the weeknight lights with cash going the opposite way. Eastern Michigan stayed within 11 of the Wolverines in Ann Arbor a few weeks ago.

Prediction: Northwestern 34, Eastern Michigan 31
Eastern Michigan +10 (1 Unit) -- Incorrect; -$110
Northwestern 26, Eastern Michigan 14

Cincinnati (6-1) at Pittsburgh (2-4)
Line: Cincinnati by 9.5.
Saturday, 12:00 ET

I hate going with the 'Stache, especially now that he's on the injury report - wow, how much does Pitt suck? - but I think Cincinnati could begin to fall apart in the wake of its first loss of the year. I never had much faith in this Bearcats squad to begin with; now they happen to be double-digit road favorites seeing tons of cash flow their way. They're solid, but not that good.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 21, Cincinnati 20
Pittsburgh +9.5 (1 Unit) -- Correct; +$100
Pittsburgh 24, Cincinnati 17

Penn State (5-2) at Indiana (5-2)
Line: Penn State by 7.5.
Saturday, 12:00 ET

I don't trust Anthony Morelli on the road. There are just way too many things that can happen. He could go out partying and show up to the game drunk. He could get lost on the way to the stadium. He could also somehow find his way to the middle of the desert and hitch a ride with two Mexican killers and a carjacker. They should make a show about this.

Prediction: Penn State 20, Indiana 17
Indiana +7.5 (1 Unit) -- Correct; +$100
Penn State 36, Indiana 31

Texas Tech (6-1) at Missouri (5-1)
Line: Missouri by 3.5.
Saturday, 3:30 ET

Missouri's hopes of an undefeated came crashing down in a blowout loss to Oklahoma. I think they're going to be really flat against a Texas Tech squad that just demolished Texas A&M.

Prediction: Texas Tech 41, Missouri 31
Texas Tech +3.5 (3 Units - Money Pick) -- Incorrect; -$330
Missouri 41, Texas Tech 10

USC (5-1) at Notre Dame (1-6)
Line: USC by 17.5.
Saturday, 3:30 ET

It's funny how things change in a matter of weeks. Toward the end of September, everyone was looking at this game and predicting an 84-0 blowout. Now, USC is coming off a loss to Stanford and a non-cover victory against Arizona, with both contests being at home. Notre Dame has been playing better lately; it beat UCLA and kept things interesting versus Boston College. Plus, Charlie Weis has finally put the donughts and decided to go with the superior quarterback, Evan Sharpley. I love grabbing double digits in a heated rivalry.

Prediction: USC 24, Notre Dame 20
Notre Dame +17.5 (3 Units - Money Pick) -- Incorrect; -$330
USC 38, Notre Dame 0

Florida (4-2) at Kentucky (6-1)
Line: Florida by 7.
Saturday, 3:30 ET

I'm going to take the Wildcats for the same reason I've been selecting them every week this year. They're underrated. This line should be closer to three or four. There's going to be a lot of emotion on the Kentucky blue grass, especially considering this game is at night.

Prediction: Florida 41, Kentucky 38
Kentucky +7 (1 Unit) -- Incorrect; -$110
Florida 45, Kentucky 37

Stanford (2-4) at Arizona (2-5)
Line: Arizona by 10.5.
Saturday, 7:00 ET

I don't get why Arizona is such a huge favorite, considering that Stanford just marched into USC and won, and followed that up by nearly knocking off TCU. The Wildcats aren't anything special.

Prediction: Arizona 27, Stanford 21
Stanford +10.5 (1 Unit) -- Correct; +$100
Stanford 21, Arizona 20

Boise State (5-1) at Louisiana Tech (2-4)
Line: Boise State by 16.5.
Saturday, 7:00 ET

I have respect for any team that can fly into Hawaii and give the Warriors problems. Louisiana Tech did just that, nearly dispatching the Colton Brennans, 45-44. I don't have much confidence in Boise State when it has to play off of its Smurf Turf. Plus, this is a short work week for them, in their wake of their 69-67 quadruple-overtime victory over Nevada.

Prediction: Boise State 31, Louisiana Tech 17
Louisiana Tech +16.5 (1 Unit) -- Correct; +$100
Boise State 45, Louisiana Tech 31

Oregon (5-1) at Washington (2-4)
Line: Oregon by 11.5.
Saturday, 7:30 ET

Speaking of grabbing double digits in a rivalry game, that's exactly what I'm going to do here. Washington hasn't had much success on the road, but it has beaten Boise State, and kept things interesting against USC and Ohio State at home. The Huskies will do the same thing in this contest, as Oregon could be looking ahead to its tilt against USC next week.

Prediction: Oregon 34, Washington 27
Washington +11.5 (2 Units - Money Pick) -- Incorrect; -$220
Oregon 55, Washington 34

Virginia (6-1) at Maryland (4-2)
Line: Maryland by 4.
Saturday, 8:00 ET

I'm going to give the Terps a try, as I think they're playing really well and under the radar right now. Maryland is coming off a bye, but beat Georgia Tech; won at Rutgers; led throughout the entire contest at Wake Forest before losing in overtime; and kept things interesting against West Virignia. I think Virginia is somewhat of a fraud 6-1. And, if anything, the Fridge could just eat the opposing coach if his squad is losing.

Prediction: Maryland 31, Virginia 17
Maryland -4 (1 Unit) -- Incorrect; -$110
Virginia 18, Maryland 17

Michigan (5-2) at Illinois (5-2)
Line: Michigan by 3.
Saturday, 8:00 ET

Live home dog, under the lights, money going the other way. Yadda, yadda, yadda. That's not the reason why I like Illinois so much, although that does happen to be a piece of the puzzle. I'm going with the Fighting Illini because they run the spread offense, which Michigan just can't seem to handle. Illinois took the week off against Iowa just to prepare for this game. Get ready for some more "Fire Lloyd Carr!" chants coming from Ann Arbor once this contest is decided.

Prediction: Illinois 34, Michigan 20
Illinois +3 (5 Units - Double Money Pick) -- Incorrect; -$550
Michigan 27, Illinois 17

Auburn (5-2) at LSU (6-1)
Line: LSU by 11.
Saturday, 9:00 ET

I love going against teams that are coming off their first loss of the season, and I'm all about taking double-digit underdogs in heated rivalries. Put the two together, and BAM! I sound like Dan Lebatard. That's not good. Let me just make my final pick and get out of here before I start writing stories about Lindsay Lohan and Hillary Duff on cruises.

Saturday Morning Update: I've been thinking about this game, and I've fallen in love with Auburn. The road Tigers have the home Tigers' number. The two systems above are also in effect.

Prediction: LSU 17, Auburn 13
Auburn +11 (4 Units - Double Money Pick) -- Correct; +$400
LSU 30, Auburn 24

Second-Half Bets
Check back at halftime to see if I have any plays posted. All picks 2 Units, unless noted.

Northern Illinois +10 -125 -- Push; -$50

Central Michigan +7 -105 -- Incorrect; -$220

Oklahoma -17 +110 -- Push; +$20

Arizona -7.5 +100 -- Incorrect; -$200

Boise State -9.5 +100 -- Correct; +$200

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